Purported Plan By A Cabal To Impose Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda As APC Gubernatorial Candidate In  Plateau Exposed

The desperation of the Plateau State Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong to impose his preferred aspirant, Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as the 2023 Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), against the provision of level playing ground for all other aspirants, is no longer a secret.

The Chairman of Plateau Vanguard for a sound democracy, Nengak Gyenkotori, and Secretary Alh Usman Garba Mohammed condemned the act as undemocratic for leaders to impose their successors through imposition, and impunity in Nigeria.

He said, It is very sad that other aspirants who have committed their resources, time, and energy to ensure that the Plateau Project remained a united front in 2015, which led to the victory of Governor Simon Lalong against the imposed candidate of then-Governor Jonah Jang, late GNS Pwajok of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and also ensured his return in 2019, are now victims of the Governor’s ingratitude.

Nengak disclosed that these same aspirants have been mobilizing their followers and partook in the revalidation exercise of the APC last year. But the Governor appears not to be appreciative of their efforts hence, the decision to single out Dr. Nentawe who just resigned as a Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) late last year, which by virtue of the law, was not a registered member of the APC.

Furthermore, he did not contribute funds to the sustenance of the APC, because by doing so, he would have violated his oath of office, and that in itself is enough to disqualify him from contesting any elective position except he gets a waiver through a due process which can only be granted by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, he said.

It is therefore safe to say that, he did not invest in the APC but wants to reap the dividends of the party at all costs when he is yet to register officially.

Up till now, Dr.Nentawe is not a card-carrying member of the APC, and a genuine waiver is yet to be given to him, though reports have it that the imposed Deputy National Secretary of the APC for North Central, who also is a foster child of the Lalong’s and an apostle of political dirty jobs, Barrister Festus Faunter crookedly got a counterfeit waiver for him.

Nengak Gyenkotori revealed that it is also learned that in their attempts to impose their stooge as the APC Gubernatorial candidate for the State names of delegates ( said to be an extraction from their foot soldiers) have been penciled down for affirmation, and subsequent biddings to deliver during the Governorship primaries.

As that was not enough, the Governor through his father-in-law, and some selected elders of Ngas land conducted a kangaroo screening of the APC aspirants from both political parties (APC and PDP) to identify possible best aspirants. Most members of the so-called Committee were carefully selected to pave way for their preferred aspirant who they plan to submit his name to the Governor to make it appear legit that he is the most popular amongst his kinsmen above others.

The governor has the right to support any aspirant of his choice but not at the expense of justice, equity and fairness, as it would amount to the abuse of democratic principles and suppression of the rights of other aspirants.

According to him, the Plateau people fought against imposition and gave Governor Lalong a mandate in 2015, and for him to begin to toe the path of his predecessor by imposing an aspirant that does not have qualities above others and is yet to be registered as a member of APC, is an outright insult on the sensibilities and efforts of the citizens who collectively stood for him 2015.

We want him to know that attempting to do what his predecessor did, shows a total betrayal of the people who supported him and makes him become a partner in the assassination of democratic practice in the State.

Although Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda too, has the right to contest the Governorship, he must follow due process in joining the APC and distance himself from any crooked waiver, or else he will be seen as a lawless person whose attempt to be governor through the crooked process, will only amount to dispensing crooked leadership if he eventually wins.

Therefore, he should be honest enough to reject any foul process that will lead him toward clinching the gubernatorial ticket.

As Democracy Vanguards, we are calling on the Governor, Dr. Nentawe, and his foot soldiers not to corrupt democracy in Plateau State by introducing a Cabal that would not stand the test of time.

The Governor should recant from hijacking delegates and make room for a free and fair delegate election.

He should follow due process in getting a waiver for his so-called preferred aspirant and a more sincere and proper process of political screening of aspirants, he conducted in Ngas land if at all the elders want to narrow down the number of aspirants.

In the event this is not adhered to, we are calling on the other 18 governorship aspirants to stick to their purported decision of dumping the ruling party, and for all eligible voters in Plateau State to turn out in en masse and defeat the hydra-headed cabal during the forthcoming 2023 General polls.